Universal Agent to Improve Wound Healing
Abstract
The FY21 PRMRP Topic Areas addressed by the proposed research project are Diabetes and Pressure Ulcers. The project focuses on drugs to augment the human innate immunity system and help promote the healing of diabetic wounds and pressure ulcers. The immune system has considerable specificity and can discriminate between individual species of microbes. In this regard, pathogens are seen as dangerous to the host and elicit an inflammatory response capable of destroying the microbes. This immune discrimination is achieved through the recognition of microbe-specific molecules, known as Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP) molecules. But cell death creates Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern (DAMP) molecules. PAMPs and DAMPs impede wound healing by lengthening the inflammatory phase of healing, contributing to the persistence of diabetic chronic wounds and pressure ulcers. Preventing PAMPs and DAMPs from triggering the release of inflammatory cytokines will improve wound healing. However, successful drugs are elusive because PAMPs originate from many different species of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This project will test a universal broad-spectrum agent against PAMPs and DAMPs. The current work efforts will generate data that provide the foundation for follow-on in vivo experiments to evaluate PEG-BPEI gels, creams, or foams as an adjunctive therapy that complements other wound treatment interventions. This will lower the chance that wound infections lead to bacteremia and sepsis. PEG-BPEI has the potential to overcome current wound-care technological limitations by opening novel investigations into a universal agent that counteracts the ability of PAMPs and DAMPS to activate pattern recognition receptors, thereby improving wound healing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2022
- Source ID
- W81XWH2210047
Entities
People
- Charles M. Rice
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Oklahoma